COOLANGATTA, QLD/AUS (Wednesday, November 27, 2013) – January 3rd will see the commencement of the 2014 ASP competitive season with the Piping Hot Surf Festival at Bells Beach, Victoria. The iconic Australian surf label Piping Hot will play host to men’s and women’s ASP 1-Star rated Qualifying Series events and men’s and women’s ASP 1-Star Pro Junior divisions, giving surfers of all ages the chance to compete for precious ASP rankings points and prize-money.

Piping Hot are also extremely excited about the prospect of a return to competition for their rising surf star Codie Klein (Kingscliff, NSW/AUS). Codie suffered a serious knee injury this year and is working hard be to 100 percent fit and ready for her sponsor’s event.

“We are really looking forward to kicking off the 2014 surfing calendar with an ASP World Tour & ASP Pro Junior event. The Piping Hot Surf Festival provides great opportunity for professional athletes of all ages, and as a brand we believe it is vital to support the sport we have grown our business from. Our team rider Codie Klein has been recovering for a large part of this year after tearing her meniscus. She will be looking to start her comeback at the event, with her eyes firmly on qualifying for the Women’s WCT. She has been a great addition to the team and will be one to watch in 2014.” – Danielle Lowe, General Manager of Piping Hot Surfwear.

Klein has undergone surgery and rehab and is working hard to be back in the surf in the coming weeks to start training for her 2014 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour qualification campaign, starting at the Piping Hot Surf Festival.

“I went into surgery where they repaired the torn meniscus,” Klein said. “I was in a massive boot and on crutches for about 8 weeks after the surgery and since then I’ve just been doing all sorts of rehab. The recovery is coming along really well and I should be returning to surfing within the next couple of weeks I am just waiting for one person to give me the all clear.”

“I’m so excited for the Piping Hot Surf Festival,” Klein continued. “It’s really early in the year which is fantastic because it means everyone can get their year underway early. Also the last few years Australia hasn’t had any lower rated QS events which makes it extremely difficult for girls to get themselves a rating to be able to do the 6-Star events. I think as a stepping stone for Australian surfing an event like this is so essential. I couldn’t be happier to have Piping Hot on board and to see them sponsoring an ASP event. They have been so great to me through my injury so I can’t wait to represent them at Bells Beach in Janurary.”